Surrey International Writers' Conference - meet the presentershttp://www.siwc.ca/tags/meet-presenters
enSiWC Presenter Roster Revealed!http://www.siwc.ca/blog/2015/siwc-presenter-roster-revealed
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/siwc15-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc15</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Hello! </p>
<p>If you follow us on Twitter, you may have noticed us asking you to stay tuned for a big #siwc15 reveal today. And HERE IT IS!</p>
<p>We are thrilled to share this year's presenter roster with you. We'll have the bios up on our presenter page soon, but for now, here's a peek at the list. We hope you're as excited about it as we are!</p>
<table style="width: 689px; height: 522px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="211" /><col width="221" /><col width="205" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td class="xl65" width="211" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Laura Bradford</span></td>
<td class="xl65" width="221"><span style="font-size: medium;">Paige Wheeler</span></td>
<td class="xl65" width="205"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chris (CC) Humphreys</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kat Brzozowski</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Howard White</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Beverly Jenkins</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Naomi Davis</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">A.J. Banner</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Susanna Kearsley</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jess Finkelstein</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q Lindsey Barrett</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary Robinette Kowal</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Abigail Gehring</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kate Braid</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shaena Lambert</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Katz</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Simon Clews</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Carrie Mac</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Holly Lorincz</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Eileen Cook</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Liza Palmer</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chip MacGregor</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Peter Darbyshire</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gigi Pandian</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jill Marr</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sean Cranbury</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Arleen Par<span class="font5">é</span></span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Laurie McLean</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Danika Dinsmore</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anne Perry</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wes Miller</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Robert Dugoni</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Vicki Pettersson</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Patricia Nelson</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">kc dyer</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gail Sattler</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ellen Niemer</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie Ephron</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Leanne Shirtliffe</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Beth Phelan</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Terry Fallis</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Slade</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Elaine Spencer</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jasper Fforde</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam Sykes</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">David Stephens</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Diana Gabaldon</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sarah Wendell</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nephele Tempest</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Steven Galloway</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack Whyte</span></td>
</tr><tr><td class="xl65" height="25"><span style="font-size: medium;">Elizabeth Wales</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">Megan Hart</span></td>
<td class="xl65"><span style="font-size: medium;">David Paul Williams</span></td>
</tr></tbody></table><p>More soon!</p></div></div></div>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 00:33:34 +0000siwcadmin1737 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2015/siwc-presenter-roster-revealed#commentsSaturday Salutationshttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/saturday-salutations
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-right" />What a gorgeous Saturday here at SiWC Central! Hope whatever you have on for today, you've earmarked some time for writing. This day we write!</p>
<p>If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet (find the link under news on the left sidebar of our site), now's a good time. Things are gearing up for SiWC 2012, and we'll be sending out e-newsletters from time to time to keep you in the loop.</p>
<p>Two more presenters for you to meet today. Let's see who the hat will give us...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First up for today is poet <strong>Fiona Tinwei Lam</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 150px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Fiona_Tinwei_Lam_0.jpg" class="float-left" />Fiona Tinwei Lam’s first book of poetry, <em>Intimate Distances</em>, was a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award. Her work has been published in literary magazines Canada-wide and in over sixteen anthologies (Canada, Hong Kong, and the US), and has been twice featured on local transit as part of B.C.’s Poetry in Transit, as well as aired on CBC Radio. She is a co-editor of and contributor to the literary non-fiction anthology, <em>Double Lives</em>, published by McGill-Queen’s University Press. Her second book of poetry, <em>Enter the Chrysanthemum</em>, came out in 2009. Last year her work was selected for The Best Canadian Poetry in English 2010. She is a regular contributor to the award-winning online news magazine, <em>The Tyee</em>. She recently edited <em>The Bright Well</em>, a collection of contemporary Canadian poetry about facing cancer. Oolichan Books will be publishing <em>The Rainbow Rocket</em>, her first book for children (about a boy who deals with the loss of a grandparent), in 2013.</p>
<p>Welcome, Fiona!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also new to SiWC this year is author <strong>Tanya Lloyd Kyi</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 148px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Tanya_Lloyd_Kyi_0.jpg" class="float-right" />Tanya Lloyd Kyi has written more than a dozen books for middle grade and young adult readers. Her most recent publications include <em>Seeing Red: The True Story of Blood</em> and <em>50 Underwear Questions</em>, both published by Annick Press. She has won the Canadian Science Writers Association Award for youth writing, the Information Book Award from the Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada, and the Christie Harris Children’s Illustrated Literature Award at the B.C. Book Prizes. Tanya lives in Vancouver with her husband and two children.</p>
<p>Welcome, Tanya!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More soon...</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p></div></div></div>Sat, 26 May 2012 23:13:02 +0000KathyChung432 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/saturday-salutations#commentsWednesday Welcomehttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/wednesday-welcome-0
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-left" />Wednesday again! Are your weeks speeding by as quickly as mine are?</p>
<p>Have you written today? If so, good for you! If not, are you here procrastinating when you could be writing? If you are, then how about you meet these two presetners and then turn off the internet for awhile and get some words on paper? Remember, this day we write! (Not just surf...)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First up for today is editor <strong>Ruth Linka</strong>, who's maintaining an air of mystery because I don't have a picture of her just yet:</p>
<p>Ruth Linka began her career in publishing at Coteau Books, a literary publisher, working in promotions and editorial. Since then she has worked at Raincoast Books as the Production Manager and Associate Art Director, and at NeWest Press as the General Manager. In 2001 Ruth and business partner Lee Shedden formed Brindle &amp; Glass in Alberta and were awarded "Emerging Publisher of the Year" at the 2003 Alberta Book Awards. Arriving at TouchWood in 2007 with Brindle &amp; Glass in tow, Ruth is now the Publisher for TouchWood Editions, of which B&amp;G is the literary imprint. She serves on the Association of Book Publishers of BC board and has also been a board member for the Literary Press Group of Canada, the Book Publishers of Alberta, and various community theatres and projects.</p>
<p>Brindle &amp; Glass and TouchWood Editions publish in the following areas: literary fiction and non-fiction with a contemporary feel and timely themes, cookbooks and books about food and drink, regional histories of people and places in Canada’s West, and crime fiction.</p>
<p>Welcome, Ruth!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This year marks the return of swashbuckling author <strong>Chris (C.C.) Humphreys</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/CCHumphreys_0.jpg" class="float-right" />Chris (C.C.) Humphreys is an actor, playwright, fight choreographer and novelist. Major roles have included Hamlet, Jack Absolute and the original voice of Salem the Cat in <em>Sabrina, the Teenage Witch</em>.</p>
<p>He has written seven historical fiction novels: <em>The French Executioner</em>, runner up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers 2002; and its sequel, <em>Blood Ties</em>, a bestseller in Canada; <em>Jack Absolute</em>, <em>The Blooding of Jack Absolute </em>and <em>Absolute Honour </em>- short listed for the 2007 Evergreen Prize by the Ontario Library Association. His latest are: <em>Vlad – The Last Confession</em>, the epic novel of the real Dracula (Sourcebooks May 2011) and the recently published, <em>A Place Called Armageddon </em>(Hachette June 2011). He has just finished his new novel about William Shakespeare’s fight choreographer.</p>
<p>He also writes for young adults: a trilogy called <em>The Runestone Saga </em>consisting of, <em>The Fetch</em>, <em>Vendetta</em>, and <em>Possession</em>. (Knopf). His latest YA novel is <em>The Hunt of the Unicorn </em>(Knopf), runner up in the recent M Awards, Victoria BC. He is translated into thirteen languages.</p>
<p>Chris lives in a forest on Salt Spring Island, BC, with wife, son and cat – who is not called Salem.</p>
<p>Welcome back, Chris!</p>
<p>More soon... now go write!</p></div></div></div>Wed, 23 May 2012 23:42:46 +0000KathyChung431 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/wednesday-welcome-0#commentsTwo for Tuesdayhttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/two-tuesday-0
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" class="float-left" />How goes your writing this month? Is looking forward to SiWC 2012 helping you stay motivated to get words on paper? Can't wait to sign up? Keep an eye on our site in the next few days for registration news.</p>
<p>But first, meet two more of this year's presenters.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Returning to SiWC this year is the very funny <strong>Eileen Cook</strong>:</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Eileen_Cook_0.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" class="float-right" />Eileen Cook is a multi-published young adult and middle grade author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Her latest release, <em>Unraveling Isobel</em> came out in Jan 2012. Her books have been optioned for film and TV, and while nothing has yet gone into production, she's already planning her Oscar speech.</p>
<p>You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny atwww.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.</p>
<p>Welcome back, Eileen!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also back this year is the only SiWC presenter I know of who's both a writer and a puppeteer, <strong>Mary Robinette Kowal</strong>:</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Mary_Robinette_Kowal_0.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" class="float-left" />Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of <em>Glamour in Glass</em> (2012) and <em>Shades of Milk and Honey</em> (Tor 2010). In 2008 she won the Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and in 2011, her short story “For Want of a Nail” won the Hugo Award for Short Story. Her work has been a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. Stories have appeared in <em>Strange Horizons</em>, <em>Asimov’s</em>, and several Year’s Best anthologies as well as in her collection <em>Scenting the Dark and Other Stories from Subterranean</em>.</p>
<p>Mary, a professional puppeteer and voice actor, has performed for LazyTown (CBS), the Center for Puppetry Arts, Jim Henson Pictures and founded Other Hand Productions. Her designs have garnered two UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence, the highest award an American puppeteer can achieve. She also records fiction for authors such as Kage Baker, Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi.</p>
<p>Mary lives in Chicago, IL with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters. Visit <a href="http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/">www.maryrobinettekowal.com</a>.</p>
<p>Welcome back, Mary!</p>
<p>More soon!</p></div></div></div>Tue, 22 May 2012 23:06:09 +0000KathyChung460 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/two-tuesday-0#commentsMeet More Mondayhttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/meet-more-monday-2
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-right" />Happy Victoria Day to our Canadian followers. Everyone else, please feel free to share in our traditional start to camping/barbecue season, especially if you have better weather than we're seeing at SiWC Central today!</p>
<p>But holiday or no hoiday, it is Monday, so time meet a couple more presenters for this year's SiWC.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First up today, say hello to freelancer <strong>Carol Tice</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Carol_Tice_0.jpg" class="float-left" />Veteran freelance writer Carol Tice has covered business and finance topics for the past 20 years, first as a business journalist and now as a writer and blogger for print and online publications such as <em>Entrepreneur</em>, <em>The Seattle Times</em> and Alaska Airlines magazine. Her reporting has won her numerous Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) awards, as well as a Best in Business award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW).</p>
<p>In addition to working as a copywriter for corporate clients including American Express, Costco, and Dunn &amp; Bradstreet, Tice is a regular blogger for <em>Entrepreneur</em> and <em>Forbes</em> and has written for Copyblogger, Problogger, Write to Done, The Renegade Writer, and Freelance Switch, among other top writing blogs.</p>
<p>In 2011, Tice founded the Freelance Writers Den, a growing online community of more than 400 members, where she mentors and teaches freelance writers how to how to grow their income. Her companion blog, Make a Living Writing, has more than 10,000 monthly readers and was named one of the Top 10 Blogs for Writers 2010/2011.</p>
<p>Welcome, Carol!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also new to SiWC this year is editor <strong>Steve Geck</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 170px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Steve_Geck_0.jpg" class="float-right" />Steve Geck got his start in children’s books when his parents opened The Tree House Children's Book Store in St. Cloud, MN. After college he moved to New York City and worked as the buyer and manager for Eeyore's Books for Children. Most recently he was Executive Editor at Greenwillow Books before he joined Sourcebooks Jabberwocky as Editorial Manager. He acquires books for children from birth through the age of fourteen. The books he has edited include <em>Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face</em> by Jack by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Brandon Dorman; <em>Ida B</em> by Katherine Hannigan, <em>The Last Apprentice Series</em> by Joseph Delaney, and <em>Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies</em> by Jordan Jacobs.</p>
<p>Welcome, Steve!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More soon...</p></div></div></div>Mon, 21 May 2012 23:41:43 +0000KathyChung430 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/meet-more-monday-2#commentsThree for Thursdayhttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/three-thursday
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-left" />Thursday bonus! How about an exta meet-the-presenter post today? Why not!</p>
<p>I'm pulling three names out of the trusty hat today, because I like the alliteration of a Thursday three. Who will they be?</p>
<p>The hat has spoken. Say hello to three brand-new-to-SiWC presenters:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Gigi_Rosenberg_0.jpg" class="float-right" /><strong>Gigi Rosenberg</strong> won her first unofficial grant as a 14-year old when she convinced her parents to fork over the cash to buy 5 rolls of Super 8 Kodachrome film to shoot her first film. Today, she works as a writer, speaker, and presentation coach for artists and entrepreneurs. She wrote <i>The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing</i>(Watson-Guptill, 2010) to teach artists and writers how to win grants, fundraise creatively, and ensure that every second they spend writing a proposal pushes their art further into the world. She’s been published by Seal Press, <i>The Oregonian, Jewish Review, Writer's Digest,</i> and <i>Parenting. </i></p>
<p>Welcome, Gigi!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="width: 172px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Bree_Ogden_0.jpg" class="float-left" /><strong>Bree Ogden</strong> is a literary agent with D4EO Literary Agency, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels.</p>
<p>Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Editor of the Year, as well as SVU’s Pioneer Award, an honor the University awards to two students each year. She then received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the <em>New England Press Association Bulletin</em>, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, <em>Tastemakers Magazine</em>.</p>
<p>Bree has spent many years working as a freelance journalist and currently co-operates the macabre children’s magazine <em>Underneath the Juniper Tree</em> where she serves as Editorial Director. Bree is also an instructor for the Web site LitReactor.com where she teaches Intro to Graphic Novel Writing.</p>
<p>Welcome, Bree!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/DeanCooke_0.jpg" class="float-right" /><strong>Dean Cooke</strong>, literary agent, has worked in publishing for over twenty-five years, having first started in the warehouse of a small publishing company. He has worked in various capacities for Doubleday Canada, Lester &amp; Orpen Dennys, and Bantam/Seal where he was the publisher of Seal Books. He left Bantam/Seal in 1992 to found The Cooke Agency. Dean’s list reflects his reading tastes: literary fiction, history—especially Russian history and World War II; anything about royalty from ancient Egypt to contemporary Britain; pop culture, historical fiction, business, and popular science. He has probably represented more hockey books than any other agent in Canada, but as a transplanted American, has only recently learned what a hat trick is. Please no self-help or inspirational, he’s not that evolved. Fresh, smart mystery, horror and thrillers— especially historical—are of interest, but no romance or other strictly genre fiction. In 1997, Dean was the founding coordinator of the Book Publishing Immersion Workshop at The Centre for Studies in Publishing at Simon Fraser University, where he is now an adjunct professor. He has lectured in Canada and the United States on a wide range of publishing related subjects.</p>
<p>Welcome, Dean!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More soon!</p>
<p> </p></div></div></div>Thu, 17 May 2012 17:20:57 +0000KathyChung428 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/three-thursday#commentsWelcome Wednesdayhttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/welcome-wednesday
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-right" />Another week speeding by! Can't believe it's Wednesday already. We're moving ever closer to registration opening for SiWC 2012. Watch for details in the coming week or two in our newsletter. If you don't already subscribe, now would be a good time to sign up. We won't give or sell your email address to anyone else, and we won't inundate you with emails. We typically send six or seven newsletters a year to keep you informed about all the SiWC news. All the info and the link to the sign-up page here: <a href="http://www.siwc.ca/news/mailouts.php">http://www.siwc.ca/news/mailouts.php</a></p>
<p>How about a few presenter introductions? All those little slips of paper in the hat... I think I'll pull three today, just for the heck of it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First up today, meet <strong>JJ Lee</strong>, whose memoir has, in my opinion, one of the best titles ever:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/JJ_Lee_0.jpg" class="float-left" />JJ Lee writes a menswear advice column for the <em>Vancouver Sun</em> which is syndicated across Canada. He presents, when called upon, a fashion column for CBC Radio in Vancouver. He has worked in broadcasting as a writer, contributor, comedy performer, reporter, and producer for such CBC Radio programs as Basic Black, Out Front, The Current, Richardson’s Roundup, Sounds Like Canada, and Ideas, for which he prepared a radio documentary on the social history of suits that inspired the book of the same name. His 2011 memoir, <em>The Measure of a Man</em>, was a finalist for the Governor-General's Literary Awards, the Charles Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction, and the BC Book Prize.</p>
<p>Welcome, JJ!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also new to SiWC this year is agent <strong>Vickie Motter</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Vickie_Motter_0.jpg" class="float-right" />Vickie Motter has been working with Andrea Hurst Literary Management since 2010. She is looking for established authors as well as talented new writers. She prefers a well crafted plot with engaging voice to literary writing or controversial characters. Wry humor, quirky characters, and unique situations are a must. In Adult fiction she is looking for Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Steampunk, and Cozy Mysteries. She acquires all genres of Young Adult but is especially on the lookout for SciFi, High Fantasy, Steampunk, Historical, and Historical Fantasy. Visit her at her popular agent blog Navigating the Slush Pile for more information and writing tips.</p>
<p>Welcome, Vickie!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And finally for today, this next presenter is one of our most requestsed teachers. Say hello to <strong>Hallie Ephron:</strong></p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/HallieEphron_0.jpg" class="float-left" />Hallie Ephron writes books she hopes will keep readers up nights. Her two latest, COME AND FIND ME and NEVER TELL A LIE, were both finalists for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. NEVER TELL A LIE was adapted into the movie AND BABY WILL FALL for the Lifetime Movie Network. Her WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL: HOW TO KNOCK 'EM DEAD WITH STYLE was nominated for Edgar and Anthony awards, and she is an award-winning book reviewer for the BOSTON GLOBE.</p>
<p>Welcome back, Hallie!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More soon!</p>
<p> </p></div></div></div>Wed, 16 May 2012 16:56:08 +0000KathyChung427 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/welcome-wednesday#commentsMeet More Mondayhttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/meet-more-monday-1
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-right" />Good morning! Or afternoon or evening, depending on where you are.</p>
<p>It's Monday. Have you set some writing goals for this week? One of our #thisdaywewrite participants is attempting to do an hour a day. Why not try it?</p>
<p>But first, say hello to a couple of this year's presenters:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First up for today is brilliant teacher and SF writer <strong>Robert J. Sawyer</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 170px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/robert-j-sawyer-author-photo-by-christina-molendyk-color_0.jpg" class="float-left" />Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight people ever—and the only Canadian—to have won all three of the science-fiction field’s top awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo (which he won for <i>Hominids</i>), the Nebula (which he won for <i>The Terminal Experiment</i>), and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (which he won for <i>Mindscan</i>). He’s also won an Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada, and the top science-fiction awards in Canada (twelve times), Japan (three times), Spain (three times), China, and France. According to the <i>Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards</i>, he has won more awards for his novels than anyone else in the history of the science-fiction and fantasy fields. The ABC television series <i>FlashForward</i> was based on his novel of the same name. <i>Quill &amp; Quire,</i> the Canadian publishing trade journal, calls him “one of the thirty most influential, innovative, and just plain powerful people in Canadian publishing.” His twenty-first novel, <i>Triggers,</i> is an April 2012 title from Penguin Canada. Rob was the first science-fiction writer to have a website; visit it at sfwriter.com.</p>
<p>Welcome, Rob!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also joining us this year is terrific editor <strong>Valerie Gray</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Valerie_Gray_12_0.jpg" class="float-right" />Valerie Gray- is the Executive Editor for MIRA Books, an imprint of Harlequin, located in Toronto, Canada. Her long and varied career has included work not only in publishing, but in the areas of education, broadcasting and film, all of which have involved telling stories of one sort or another. Since coming to publishing over a dozen years ago, she has assisted the careers of several New York Times bestselling authors and has worked with many others who write in a variety of genres, including commercial literary fiction, historical fiction, romance, and paranormal fiction. Her mantra is: “The reason I come to work every day is to discover a new voice, and to be re-inspired by an established author.”</p>
<p>Welcome back, Valerie!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More soon...</p></div></div></div>Mon, 14 May 2012 18:21:10 +0000KathyChung426 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/meet-more-monday-1#commentsMonday Meetinghttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/monday-meeting
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-left" />Monday again already?! How did that happen? I hope you all had the most marvellous of weekends and are all set for a new week of writing. Have you been finding time to meet your writing goals? Don't forget, this day we write! If you're on Twitter, use the hashtag #thisdaywewrite to tell us your writing goals and check in and let us know how you're doing.</p>
<p>But we know a good writing day requires both inspiration and procrastination, so once again we bring you both, in the form of introductions to a couple of our SiWC 2012 presenters.</p>
<p>The trusty hat got knocked on the floor last night, so the possible choices are freshly shaken up, ready for today's random picks. Here we go!</p>
<p>This first presenter's travels this year include Lithuania and the UK, but come October, she'll be here with us. Say hello to <strong>Diana Gabaldon</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Diana%202010_0.jpg" class="float-right" />Diana Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning, #1 NYT-bestselling OUTLANDER novels, described by Salon magazine as "the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting "Scrooge McDuck" comics." The adventure began in 1991 with the classic OUTLANDER ("historical fiction with a Moebius twist"), has continued through six more New York Times-bestselling novels--DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, VOYAGER, DRUMS OF AUTUMN, THE FIERY CROSS, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES, and AN ECHO IN THE BONE, with nineteen million copies in print worldwide The series is published in 24 countries and 21 languages, and includes a nonfiction (well, relatively) companion volume, THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, which provides details on the settings, background, characters, research, and writing of the novels. Gabaldon (it's pronounced "GAH-bull-dohn"—rhymes with "stone") has also written several books in a sub-series featuring Lord John Grey (a major minor character from the main series): LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER, LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, and LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS. Another Lord John book, LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER, was published in 2011). Returning to her comic-book roots, she has also written a graphic novel titled THE EXILE (set within the OUTLANDER universe and featuring the main characters from OUTLANDER), but told from the viewpoint of Jamie Fraser and his godfather, Murtagh. The graphic novel is illustrated by Hoang Nguyen, and was published by Ballantine in 2010.</p>
<p>Welcome back, Diana!</p>
<p>Brand new to us this year is agent <strong>Sarah LaPolla</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Sarah_LaPolla_0.jpg" class="float-left" />Sarah LaPolla is an associate agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd. She studied creative writing at Ithaca College, and has an MFA in creative nonfiction from The New School. She joined Curtis Brown, Ltd. in 2008 as the assistant to the foreign rights department, and became an associate agent in 2010.</p>
<p>Sarah represents both adult and YA fiction. For adult books, she is looking for literary fiction, urban fantasy, magical realism, mystery, literary horror, and has a soft spot for short story collections. On the YA side, she welcomes contemporary/realistic fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, thriller, and horror. No matter the age of the intended audience, Sarah is drawn to voice-driven narratives and strong protagonists.</p>
<p>Sarah runs a literary blog called Glass Cases (<a href="http://bigglasscases.blogspot.com/">http://bigglasscases.blogspot.com</a>) and can be found on Twitter at @sarahlapolla.</p>
<p>Welcome, Sarah!</p>
<p>More soon...</p>
<p>K</p></div></div></div>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:21:56 +0000KathyChung420 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/monday-meeting#commentsFriday Featureshttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/friday-features
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/meet-presenters" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">meet the presenters</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/siwc-2012" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">siwc 2012</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img style="width: 94px; height: 71px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/hello-my-name-is.jpg" class="float-right" />Happy Friday! Here at SiWC Central, a glorious, sunny morning has emerged from a night more suited to November than April, so we can't help but be cheerful this morning. So we figured we'd pass on the joy and give you not one, not two, but THREE of this year's presenters. Let's see what the hat has in store for you today...</p>
<p>First up, brand new to SiWC this year, please welcome the amazing <strong>Jane Espenson:</strong></p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Jane_Espenson_0.jpg" class="float-left" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Jane Espenson has written for <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em>, <em>Angel</em>, <em>Firefly</em>, <em>The O.C.</em>, <em>Gilmore Girls</em>, <em>Dollhouse</em>, <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>, <em>Caprica</em>, <em>Game of Thrones</em>, and <em>Torchwood: Miracle Day</em> among other series. She is currently a consulting producer on ABC's hit <em>Once Upon A Time</em>, and is co-creator of <em>Husbands</em>, a web series viewable at <a title="http://husbandstheseries.com" href="http://husbandstheseries.com/">http://husbandstheseries.com</a> You can follow Jane on Twitter @JaneEspenson.</p>
<p>Welcome, Jane!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once upon a time, our next presenter was one of the attendees who travelled the farthest to be at SiWC, all the way from Japan. Now, she's a multi-published author and a most excellent teacher. Say hello to <strong>Linda Gerber</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 140px; height: 166px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Linda_Gerber.jpg" class="float-right" />Linda Gerber writes killer fiction for teens and tweens, including the best-selling DEATH BY BIKINI MYSTERIES series and the new MG series, LIGHTS, CAMERA, CASSIDY. Her books have been honored as ALA Popular Paperback, Junior Library Guild, Women’s Sports Foundation recommended read and Literacy Lab recommended read selections.</p>
<p>While living in Japan, Linda served as the Regional Advisor for the Tokyo chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Currently, she lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, four kids, and one very naughty puppy.</p>
<p>Welcome, Linda!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Third up today is the only editor we're aware of who's ever had to edit her own name tag at SiWC, Tor's <strong>Claire Eddy</strong>:</p>
<p><img style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="/sites/files/siwc/userimages/u4/Claire_Eddy_0.jpg" class="float-left" />Claire Eddy is a senior editor at Tor/Forge Books and has been with the company for close to 30 years. She began editing science fiction and fantasy early in her career and has worked with such authors as Orson Scott Card, Jacqueline Carey, Sara Douglass and Juliet Marillier, as well as newcomers Beth Bernobich and Ian Tregillis. While she still edits these genres, she has broadened her projects to include historicals, thrillers and mysteries. On the mystery side, she has worked with Stuart Kaminksy, Carole Nelson Douglas, and Sharan Newman. She's spent the better part of her adult life working with authors to make their stories and dreams be the best they can be, becoming that "third eye" and nudge to accomplish this feat.</p>
<p>Welcome, Claire!</p>
<p>Stay tuned. More soon!</p>
<p>K</p></div></div></div>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:34:08 +0000KathyChung419 at http://www.siwc.cahttp://www.siwc.ca/blog/2012/friday-features#comments